title: Plantar fasciitis.
abstract: Heel pain, mostly caused by plantar fasciitis (PF), is a common complaint of many patients who requiring professional orthopedic care and are mostly suffering from chronic pain beneath their heels. The present article reviews studies done by preeminent practitioners related to the anatomy of plantar fasciitis and their histo-pathological features, factors associated with PF, clinical features, imaging studies, differential diagnoses, and diverse treatment modalities for treatment of PF, with special emphasis on non-surgical treatment. Anti-inflammatory agents, plantar stretching, and orthosis proved to have highest priority; corticosteroid injection, night splints and extracorporeal shock wave therapy were of next priority, in patients with PF. In patients resistant to the mentioned treatments surgical intervention should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Kashani Hospital, Medical University of Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Tahririan
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Motififard
authors.forename: Mohammad Naghi
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Tahmasebi
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Siavashi
keywords: Plantar fasciitis; imaging studies; plantar heel pain; risk factors; treatment